第16章

"Iknowhedidn\'tsleeplastnight，afteryouallwentaway，"Conradpursued，"andofcoursethatmadehimmoreirritable；andhewastriedagooddealbysomeofthethingsthatMr。Lindausaid。"

"Iwastriedagooddealmyself，"saidMarch。"Lindauoughtnevertohavebeenthere。"

"No。"Conradseemedonlypartiallytoassent。

"ItoldMr。Fulkersonso。IwarnedhimthatLindauwouldbeapttobreakoutinsomeway。Itwasn\'tjusttohim，anditwasn\'tjusttoyourfather，toaskhim。"

"Mr。Fulkersonhadagoodmotive，"Conradgentlyurged。"Hediditbecausehehurthisfeelingsthatdayaboutthepension。"

"Yes，butitwasamistake。HeknewthatLindauwasinflexibleabouthisprinciples，ashecallsthem，andthatoneofhisfirstprinciplesistodenouncetherichinseasonandoutofseason。Idon\'trememberjustwhathesaidlastnight；andIreallythoughtI\'dkepthimfrombreakingoutinthemostoffensiveway。Butyourfatherseemsverymuchincensed。"

"Yes，Iknow，"saidConrad。

"Ofcourse，Idon\'tagreewithLindau。Ithinkthereareasmanygood，kind，justpeopleamongtherichasthereareamongthepoor，andthattheyareasgenerousandhelpful。ButLindauhasgotholdofoneofthosepartialtruthsthathurtworsethanthewholetruth，and——"

"Partialtruth!"theyoungmaninterrupted。"Didn\'ttheSaviourhimselfsay，\'HowhardlyshalltheythathaverichesenterintothekingdomofGod?\'"

"Why，blessmysoul!"criedMarch。"DoyouagreewithLindau?"

"IagreewiththeLordJesusChrist，"saidtheyoungman，solemnly，andastrangelightoffanaticism，ofexaltation，cameintohiswideblueeyes。

"AndIbelieveHemeantthekingdomofheavenuponthisearth，aswellasintheskies。"

Marchthrewhimselfbackinhischairandlookedathimwithakindofstupefaction，inwhichhiseyewanderedtothedoorway，wherehesawFulkersonstanding，itseemedtohimalongtime，beforeheheardhimsaying:"Hello，hello!What\'stherow?ConradpitchingintoyouonoldLindau\'saccount，too?"

Theyoungmanturned，and，afteraglanceatFulkerson\'slight，smilingface，wentout，asifinhispresentmoodhecouldnotbearthecontactofthatpersiflantspirit。

Marchfelthimselfgettingprovisionallyveryangryagain。"Excuseme，Fulkerson，butdidyouknowwhenyouwentoutwhatMr。Dryfooswantedtoseemefor?"

"Well，no，Ididn\'texactly，"saidFulkerson，takinghisusualseatonachairandlookingoverthebackofitatMarch。"Isawhewasonhiscaraboutsomething，andIthoughtI\'dbetternotmonkeywithhimmuch。

IsupposedhewasgoingtobringyoutobookaboutoldLindau，somehow。"

Fulkersonbrokeintoalaugh。

Marchremainedserious。"Mr。Dryfoos，"hesaid，willingtoletthesimplestatementhaveitsownweightwithFulkerson，andnothingmore，"cameinhereandorderedmetodischargeLindaufromhisemploymentonthemagazine——toturnhimoff，asheputit。"

"Didhe?"askedFulkerson，withunbrokencheerfulness。"Theoldmanisbusiness，everytime。Well，IsupposeyoucaneasilygetsomebodyelsetodoLindau\'sworkforyou。Thistownisjustrunningoverwithhalf-

starvedlinguists。Whatdidyousay?"

"WhatdidIsay?"Marchechoed。"Lookhere，Fulkerson；youmayregardthisasajoke，butIdon\'t。I\'mnotusedtobeingspokentoasifI

weretheforemanofashop，andtoldtodischargeasensitiveandcultivatedmanlikeLindau，asifhewereadrunkenmechanic；andifthat\'syourideaofme——"

"Oh，hello，now，March!Youmustn\'tmindtheoldman\'sway。Hedon\'tmeananythingbyit——hedon\'tknowanybetter，ifyoucometothat。"

"ThenIknowbetter，"saidMarch。"IrefusedtoreceiveanyinstructionsfromMr。Dryfoos，whomIdon\'tknowinmyrelationswith\'EveryOtherWeek，\'andIreferredhimtoyou。"

"Youdid?，"Fulkersonwhistled。"Heownsthething!"

"Idon\'tcarewhoownsthething，"saidMarch。"Mynegotiationswerewithyoualonefromthebeginning，andIleavethismatterwithyou。

WhatdoyouwishdoneaboutLindau?"

"Oh，betterlettheoldfooldrop，"saidFulkerson。"He\'lllightonhisfeetsomehow，anditwillsavealotofrumpus。"

"AndifIdeclinetolethimdrop?"

"Oh，come，now，March；don\'tdothat，"Fulkersonbegan。

"IfIdeclinetolethimdrop，"Marchrepeated，"whatwillyoudo?"

"I\'llbedoggedifIknowwhatI\'lldo，"saidFulkerson。"Ihopeyouwon\'ttakethatstand。Iftheoldmanwentsofarastospeaktoyouaboutit，hismindismadeup，andwemightaswellknockunderfirstaslast。"

"AnddoyoumeantosaythatyouwouldnotstandbymeinwhatI

consideredmyduty-inamatterofprinciple?"

"Why，ofcourse，March，"saidFulkerson，coaxingly，"Imeantodotherightthing。ButDryfoosownsthemagazine——"

"Hedoesn\'townme，"saidMarch，rising。"Hehasmadethelittlemistakeofspeakingtomeasifhedid；andwhen"——Marchputonhishatandtookhisovercoatdownfromitsnail——"whenyoubringmehisapologies，orcometosaythat，havingfailedtomakehimunderstandtheywerenecessary，youarepreparedtostandbyme，Iwillcomebacktothisdesk。Otherwisemyresignationisatyourservice。"

Hestartedtowardthedoor，andFulkersoninterceptedhim。"Ah，now，lookhere，March!Don\'tdothat!Hangitall，don\'tyouseewhereitleavesme?Now，youjustsitdownaminuteandtalkitover。Icanmakeyousee——Icanshowyou——Why，confoundtheoldDutchbeer-buzzer!Twentyofhimwouldn\'tbeworththetroublehe\'smakin\'。Lethimgo，andtheoldman\'llcomeroundintime。"

"Idon\'tthinkwe\'veunderstoodeachotherexactly，Mr。Fulkerson，"saidMarch，veryhaughtily。"Perhapswenevercan；butI\'llleaveyoutothinkitout。"

Hepushedon，andFulkersonstoodasidetolethimpass，withadazedlookandamechanicalmovement。TherewassomethingcomicinhisruefulbewildermenttoMarch，whowastemptedtosmile，buthesaidtohimselfthathehadasmuchreasontobeunhappyasFulkerson，andhedidnotsmile。HisindignationkepthimhotinhispurposetosufferanyconsequenceratherthansubmittothedictationofamanlikeDryfoos；

hefeltkeenlythedegradationofhisconnectionwithhim，andallhisresentmentofFulkerson\'soriginaluncandorreturned；atthesametimehisheartachedwithforeboding。Itwasnotmerelytheworkinwhichhehadconstantlygrownhappierthathesawtakenfromhim；buthefeltthemiseryofthemanwhostakesthesecurityandplentyandpeaceofhomeuponsomecast，andknowsthatlosingwillsweepfromhimmostthatmostmenfindsweetandpleasantinlife。Hefacedthefact，whichnogoodmancanfrontwithoutterror，thathewasriskingthesupportofhisfamily，andforapointofpride，ofhonor，whichperhapshehadnorighttoconsiderinviewofthepossibleadversity。Herealized，aseveryhirelingmust，nomatterhowskillfullyorgracefullythetieiscontrivedforhiswearing，thathebelongstoanother，whosewillishislaw。HisindignationwasshotwithabjectimpulsestogobackandtellFulkersonthatitwasallright，andthathegaveup。Toendtheanguishofhisstrugglehequickenedhissteps，sothathefoundhewasreachinghomealmostatarun。

VIII。

Hemusthavemademoreclatterthanhesupposedwithhiskeyattheapartmentdoor，forhiswifehadcometolethiminwhenheflungitopen。"Why，Basil，"shesaid，"what\'sbroughtyouback?Areyousick?

You\'reallpale。Well，nowonder!ThisisthelastofMr。Fulkerson\'sdinnersyoushallgoto。You\'renotstrongenoughforit，andyourstomachwillbealloutoforderforaweek。Howhotyouare!andinadripofperspiration!Nowyou\'llbesick。"Shetookhishataway，whichhungdanglinginhishand，andpushedhimintoachairwithtenderimpatience。"Whatisthematter?Hasanythinghappened?"

"Everythinghashappened，"hesaid，gettinghisvoiceafteroneortwohuskyendeavorsforit；andthenhepouredoutaconfusedandhuddledstatementofthecase，fromwhichsheonlygotatthesituationbyprolongedcross-questioning。

Attheendshesaid，"IknewLindauwouldgetyouintotrouble。"

ThiscutMarchtotheheart。"Isabel!"hecried，reproachfully。

"Oh，Iknow，"sheretorted，andthetearsbegantocome。"Idon\'twonderyoudidn\'twanttosaymuchtomeaboutthatdinneratbreakfast。

Inoticedit；butIthoughtyouwerejustdull，andsoIdidn\'tinsist。

IwishIhad，now。IfyouhadtoldmewhatLindauhadsaid，Ishouldhaveknownwhatwouldhavecomeofit，andIcouldhaveadvisedyou——"

"Wouldyouhaveadvisedme，"Marchdemanded，curiously，"tosubmittobullyinglikethat，andmeeklyconsenttocommitanactofcrueltyagainstamanwhohadoncebeensuchafriendtome?"

"Itwasanunluckydaywhenyoumethim。Isupposeweshallhavetogo。

AndjustwhenwebadgotusedtoNewYork，andbeguntolikeit。Idon\'tknowwhereweshallgonow；Bostonisn\'tlikehomeanymore；andwecouldn\'tliveontwothousandthere；Ishouldbeashamedtotry。I\'msureIdon\'tknowwherewecanliveonit。Isupposeinsomecountryvillage，wheretherearenoschools，oranythingforthechildren。I

don\'tknowwhatthey\'llsaywhenwetellthem，poorthings。"

EverywordwasastabinMarch\'sheart，soweaklytendertohisown；hiswife\'stears，aftersomuchexperienceofthecomparativelightnessofthegriefsthatweepthemselvesoutinwomen，alwaysseemedwrungfromhisownsoul；ifhischildrensufferedintheleastthroughhim，hefeltlikeamurderer。Itwasfarworsethanhecouldhaveimagined，thewayhiswifetooktheaffair，thoughhehadimaginedcertainwords，orperhapsonlylooks，fromherthatwerebadenough。Hehadallowedfortrouble，buttroubleonhisaccount:asvmpathythatmightburdenandembarrasshim；buthehadnotdreamedofthismerelydomestic，thispetty，thissordidviewoftheirpotentialcalamity，whichlefthimwhollyoutofthequestion，andembracedonlywhatwasmostcrushinganddesolatingintheprospect。Hecouldnotbearit。Hecaughtuphishatagain，and，withsomehopethathiswifewouldtrytokeephim，rushedoutofthehouse。Hewanderedaimlesslyabout，thinkingthesameexhaustingthoughtsoverandover，tillhefoundhimselfhorriblyhungry；

thenhewentintoarestaurantforhislunch，andwhenhepaidhetriedtoimaginehowheshouldfeelifthatwerereallyhislastdollar。

Hewenthometowardthemiddleoftheafternoon，baselyhopingthatFulkersonhadsenthimsomeconciliatorymessage，orperhapswaswaitingthereforhimtotalkitover；Marchwasquitewillingtotalkitovernow。Butitwashiswifewhoagainmethimatthedoor，thoughitseemedanotherwomanthantheonehehadleftweepinginthemorning。

"Itoldthechildren，"shesaid，insmilingexplanationofhisabsencefromlunch，"thatperhapsyouweredetainedbybusiness。Ididn\'tknowbutyouhadgonebacktotheoffice。"

"DidyouthinkIwouldgobackthere，Isabel?"askedMarch，withahaggardlook。"Well，ifyousayso，Iwillgoback，anddowhatDryfoosorderedmetodo。I\'msufficientlycowedbetweenhimandyou，Icanassureyou。"

"Nonsense，"shesaid。"Iapproveofeverythingyoudid。Butsitdown，now，anddon\'tkeepwalkingthatway，andletmeseeifIunderstanditperfectly。Ofcourse，Ihadtohavemysayout。"

ShemadehimgoalloverhistalkwithDryfoosagain，andreporthisownlanguageprecisely。Fromtimetotime，asshegothispoints，shesaid，"Thatwassplendid，""Goodenoughforhim!"and"Oh，I\'msogladyousaidthattohim!"Attheendshesaid:

"Well，now，let\'slookatitfromhispointofview。Let\'sbeperfectlyjusttohimbeforewetakeanotherstepforward。"

"Orbackward，"Marchsuggested，ruefully。"Thecaseissimplythis:heownsthemagazine。"

"Ofcourse。"

"AndhehasarighttoexpectthatIwillconsiderhispecuniaryinterests——"

"Oh，thosedetestablepecuniaryinterests!Don\'tyouwishtherewasn\'tanymoneyintheworld?"

"Yes；orelsethattherewasagreatdealmoreofit。AndIwasperfectlywillingtodothat。Ihavealwayskeptthatinmindasoneofmydutiestohim，eversinceIunderstoodwhathisrelationtothemagazinewas。"

"Yes，Icanbearwitnesstothatinanycourtofjustice。You\'vedoneitagreatdealmorethanIcould，Basil。Anditwasjustthesamewaywiththosehorribleinsurancepeople。"

"Iknow，"Marchwenton，tryingtobeproofagainstherflatteries，oratleasttolookasifhedidnotdeservepraise；"IknowthatwhatLindausaidwasoffensivetohim，andIcanunderstandhowhefeltthathehadarighttopunishit。AllIsayisthathehadnorighttopunishitthroughme。"

"Yes，"saidMrs。March，askingly。

"Ifithadbeenaquestionofmaking\'EveryOtherWeek\'thevehicleofLindau\'speculiaropinions——thoughthey\'renotsoverypeculiar；hemighthavegotthemostofthemoutofRuskin——Ishouldn\'thavehadanygroundtostandon，oratleastthenIshouldhavehadtoaskmyselfwhetherhisopinionswouldbeinjurioustothemagazineornot。"

"Idon\'tsee，"Mrs。Marchinterpolated，"howtheycouldhurtitmuchworsethanColonelWoodburn\'sarticlecryingupslavery。"

"Well，"saidMarch，impartially，"wecouldprintadozenarticlespraisingtheslaveryit\'simpossibletohaveback，anditwouldn\'thurtus。ButifweprintedonepaperagainsttheslaverywhichLindauclaimsstillexists，somepeoplewouldcallusbadnames，andthecounting-roomwouldbegintofeelit。Butthatisn\'tthepoint。Lindau\'sconnectionwith\'EveryOtherWeek\'isalmostpurelymechanical；he\'smerelyatranslatorofsuchstoriesandsketchesashefirstsubmitstome，anditisn\'tatallaquestionofhisopinionshurtingus，butofmybecominganagenttopunishhimforhisopinions。ThatiswhatIwouldn\'tdo；that\'swhatIneverwilldo。"

"Ifyoudid，"saidhiswife，"Ishouldperfectlydespiseyou。Ididn\'tunderstandhowitwasbefore。IthoughtyouwerejustholdingoutagainstDryfoosbecausehetookadictatorialtonewithyou，andbecauseyouwouldn\'trecognizehisauthority。ButnowI\'mwithyou，Basil，everytime，asthathorridlittleFulkersonsays。Butwhowouldeverhavesupposedhewouldbesobaseastosideagainstyou?"

"Idon\'tknow，"saidMarch，thoughtfully，"thatwehadarighttoexpectanythingelse。Fulkerson\'sstandardsarelow；they\'remerelybusinessstandards，andthegoodthat\'sinhimisincidentalandsomethingquiteapartfromhismoralsandmethods。He\'snaturallyagenerousandright-

mindedcreature，butlifehastaughthimtotruckleandtrick，liketherestofus。"

"Ithasn\'ttaughtyouthat，Basil。"

"Don\'tbesosure。Perhapsit\'sonlythatI\'mapoorscholar。ButI

don\'tknow，really，thatIdespiseFulkersonsomuchforhiscoursethismorningasforhisgrossandfulsomeflatteriesofDryfooslastnight。

Icouldhardlystomachit。"

Hiswifemadehimtellherwhattheywere，andthenshesaid，"Yes，thatwasloathsome；Icouldn\'thavebelieveditofMr。Fulkerson。"

"Perhapsheonlydidittokeepthetalkgoing，andtogivetheoldmanachancetosaysomething，"Marchlenientlysuggested。"Itwasaworseeffectbecausehedidn\'torcouldn\'tfollowupFulkerson\'slead。"

"Itwasloathsome，allthesame，"hiswifeinsisted。"It\'stheendofMr。Fulkerson，asfarasI\'mconcerned。"

"Ididn\'ttellyoubefore，"Marchresumed，afteramoment，"ofmylittleinterviewwithConradDryfoosafterhisfatherleft，"andnowhewentontorepeatwhathadpassedbetweenhimandtheyoungman。

"Isuspectthatheandhisfatherhadbeenhavingsomewordsbeforetheoldmancameuptotalkwithme，andthatitwasthatmadehimsofurious。"

"Yes，butwhatastrangepositionforthesonofsuchamantotake!

Doyousupposehesayssuchthingstohisfather?"

"Idon\'tknow；butIsuspectthatinhismeekwayConradwouldsaywhathebelievedtoanybody。Isupposewemustregardhimasakindofcrank。"

"Pooryoungfellow!Healwaysmakesmefeelsad，somehow。Hehassuchapatheticface。Idon\'tbelieveIeversawhimlookquitehappy，exceptthatnightatMrs。Horn\'s，whenhewastalkingwithMissVance；andthenhemademefeelsadderthanever。"

"Idon\'tenvyhimthelifeheleadsathome，withthoseconvictionsofhis。Idon\'tseewhyitwouldn\'tbeastolerablethereforoldLindauhimself。"

"Well，now，"saidMrs。March，"letusputthemalloutofourmindsandseewhatwearegoingtodoourselves。"

Theybegantoconsidertheirwaysandmeans，andhowandwheretheyshouldlive，inviewofMarch\'sseveranceofhisrelationswith\'EveryOtherWeek。\'Theyhadnotsavedanythingfromthefirstyear\'ssalary；

theyhadonlypreparedtosave；andtheyhadnothingsolidbuttheirtwothousandtocountupon。ButtheybuiltafutureinwhichtheyeasilylivedonthatandonwhatMarchearnedwithhispen。Hebecameafreelance，andfoughtinwhatevercausehethoughtjust；hehadnoties，nochains。TheywentbacktoBostonwiththeheroicwilltodowhatwasmostdistasteful；theywouldhavereturnedtotheirownhouseiftheyhadnotrenteditagain；but，anyrate，Mrs。Marchhelpedoutbytakingboarders，orperhapsonlylettingroomstolodgers。Theyhadsomehardstruggles，buttheysucceeded。

"Thegreatthing，"shesaid，"istoberight。I\'mtentimesashappyasifyouhadcomehomeandtoldmethatyouhadconsentedtodowhatDryfoosaskedandhehaddoubledyoursalary。"

"Idon\'tthinkthatwouldhavehappenedinanyevent，"saidMarch，dryly。

"Well，nomatter。Ijustuseditforanexample。"

Theybothexperiencedabuoyantrelief，suchasseemstocometopeoplewhobeginlifeanewonwhateverterms。"Ihopeweareyoungenoughyet，Basil，"shesaid，andshewouldnothaveitwhenhesaidtheyhadoncebeenyounger。

Theyheardthechildren\'sknockonthedoor；theyknockedwhentheycamehomefromschoolsothattheirmothermightletthemin。"Shallwetellthematonce?"sheasked，andrantoopenforthembeforeMarchcouldanswer。

Theywerenotalone。Fulkerson，smilingfromeartoear，waswiththem。

"IsMarchin?"heasked。

"Mr。Marchisathome，yes，"shesaidveryhaughtily。"He\'sinhisstudy，"andsheledthewaythere，whilethechildrenwenttotheirrooms。

"Well，March，"Fulkersoncalledoutatsightofhim，"it\'sallright!

Theoldmanhascomedown。"

"Isupposeifyougentlemenaregoingtotalkbusiness——"Mrs。Marchbegan。

"Oh，wedon\'twantyoutogoaway，"saidFulkerson。"IreckonMarchhastoldyou，anyway。"

"Yes，I\'vetoldher，"saidMarch。"Don\'tgo，Isabel。Whatdoyoumean，Fulkerson?"

"He\'sjustgoneonuphome，andhesentmeroundwithhisapologies。

Heseesnowthathehadnobusinesstospeaktoyouashedid，andhewithdrawseverything。He\'d\'a\'comeroundhimselfifI\'dsaidso，butI

toldhimIcouldmakeitallright。"

Fulkersonlookedsohappyinhavingthewholeaffairputright，andtheMarchesknewhimtobesokindlyaffectedtowardthem，thattheycouldnotrefuseforthemomenttosharehismood。Theyfeltthemselvesslippingdownfromthemoralheightwhichtheyhadgained，andMarchmadeaclutchtostayhimselfwiththequestion，"AndLindau?"

"Well，"saidFulkerson，"he\'sgoingtoleaveLindautome。Youwon\'thaveanythingtodowithit。I\'lllettheoldfellowdowneasy。"

"Doyoumean，"askedMarch，"thatMr。Dryfoosinsistsonhisbeingdismissed?"

"Why，thereisn\'tanydismissingaboutit，"Fulkersonargued。"Ifyoudon\'tsendhimanymorework，hewon\'tdoanymore，that\'sall。Orifhecomesround，youcan——He\'stobereferredtome。"

Marchshookhishead，andhiswife，withasigh，feltherselfpluckedupfromthesoftcircumstanceoftheirlives，whichshehadsunkbackintosoquickly，andsetbesidehimonthatcoldpeakofprincipleagain。

"Itwon\'tdo，Fulkerson。It\'sverygoodofyou，andallthat，butitcomestothesamethingintheend。IcouldhavegoneonwithoutanyapologyfromMr。Dryfoos；hetranscendedhisauthority，butthat\'saminormatter。Icouldhaveexcusedittohisignoranceoflifeamonggentlemen；butIcan\'tconsenttoLindau\'sdismissal——itcomestothat，whetheryoudoitorIdoit，andwhetherit\'sapositiveoranegativething——becauseheholdsthisopinionorthat。"

"Butdon\'tyousee，"saidFulkerson，"thatit\'sjustLindau\'sopinionstheoldmancan\'tstand?Hehasn\'tgotanythingagainsthimpersonally。

Idon\'tsupposethere\'sanybodythatappreciatesLindauinsomewaysmorethantheoldmandoes。"

"Iunderstand。Hewantstopunishhimforhisopinions。Well，Ican\'tconsenttothat，directlyorindirectly。Wedon\'tprinthisopinions，andhehasaperfectrighttoholdthem，whetherMr。Dryfoosagreeswiththemornot。"

Mrs。Marchhadjudgeditdecorousforhertosaynothing，butshenowwentandsatdowninthechairnextherhusband。

"Ah，dogonit!"criedFulkerson，rumplinghishairwithbothhishands。

"WhatamItodo?Theoldmansayshe\'sgottogo。"

"AndIdon\'tconsenttohisgoing，"saidMarch。

"Andyouwon\'tstayifhegoes。"

Fulkersonrose。"Well，well!I\'vegottoseeaboutit。I\'mafraidtheoldmanwon\'tstandit，March；Iam，indeed。Iwishyou\'dreconsider。

I——I\'dtakeitasapersonalfavorifyouwould。Itleavesmeinafix。

YouseeI\'vegottosidewithoneortheother。"

Marchmadenoreplytothis，excepttosay，"Yes，youmuststandbyhim，oryoumuststandbyme。"

"Well，well!Holdonawhile!I\'llseeyouinthemorning。Don\'ttakeanysteps——"

"Oh，therearenostepstotake，"saidMarch，withamelancholysmile。

"Thestepsarestopped；that\'sall。"HesankbackintohischairwhenFulkersonwasgoneanddrewalongbreath。"Thisisprettyrough。I

thoughtwehadgotthroughit。"

"No，"saidhiswife。"ItseemsasifIhadtomakethefightalloveragain。"

"Well，it\'sagoodthingit\'saholywar。"

"Ican\'tbearthesuspense。Whydidn\'tyoutellhimoutrightyouwouldn\'tgobackonanyterms?"

"Imightaswell，andgottheglory。He\'llnevermoveDryfoos。I

supposewebothwouldliketogoback，ifwecould。"

"Oh，Isupposeso。"

Theycouldnotregaintheirlostexaltation，theirlostdignity。AtdinnerMrs。MarchaskedthechildrenhowtheywouldliketogobacktoBostontolive。

"Why，we\'renotgoing，arewe?"askedTom，withoutenthusiasm。

"Iwasjustwonderinghowyoufeltaboutit，now，"shesaid，withanunderlookatherhusband。

"Well，ifwegoback，"saidBella，"IwanttoliveontheBackBay。It\'sawfullyMickyattheSouthEnd。"

"IsupposeIshouldgotoHarvard，"saidTom，"andI\'droomoutatCambridge。ItwouldbeeasiertogetatyouontheBackBay。"

Theparentssmiledruefullyateachother，and，inviewofthesegrandexpectationsofhischildren，MarchresolvedtogoasfarashecouldinmeetingDryfoos\'swishes。Heproposedthetheatreasadistractionfromtheanxietiesthatheknewwerepressingequallyonhiswife。"Wemightgotothe\'OldHomestead，\'"hesuggested，withasadirony，whichonlyhiswifefelt。

"Ohyes，let\'s!"criedBella。

Whiletheyweregettingready，someonerang，andBellawenttothedoor，andthencametotellherfatherthatitwasMr。Lindau。"Hesayshewantstoseeyoujustamoment。He\'sintheparlor，andhewon\'tsitdown，oranything。"

"Whatcanhewant?"groanedMrs。March，fromtheircommondismay。

Marchapprehendedastormintheoldman\'sface。Butheonlystoodinthemiddleoftheroom，lookingverysadandgrave。"YouareGoingoudt，"hesaid。"Iwon\'tgeepyoulong。Ihafgometopringpackdosemacassinesanddismawney。Ican\'tdoanymorevoarkforyou；andI

can\'tgeepthemawneyyouhafbaidmea\'ready。Itissnothawnestmawney——thathassbeenoarnedpyvoark；itissmawneythathasspeenmatepysbeculation，andtheobbressionofflapor，andthenecessityoftheboor，pyaman——Hereitis，eferytollar，eferyzent。Dakeit；Ifeelasifderevasploodtonit。"

"Why，Lindau，"Marchbegan，buttheoldmaninterruptedhim。

"Ton\'tdalktome，Passil!Icouldnothafbelievedtitofyou。WhenyouknowhowIfeelaboutdosetings，whytidn\'tyoudellmewhosemawneyyoubayoudttome?Ach，Iton\'tplameyou——Iton\'trebroachyou。Youhafneferthoughtofit；boatIhavethought，andIshouldbeGuilty，Imustsharethatman\'sGuilt，ifIgepthissmawney。Ifyouhattoldtmeatthepeginning——ifyouhatpeenfrankwithmeboatitissallrighdt；

youcangoon；youton\'tseedesetingsasIseethem；andyouhafcotafamily，andIamafreeman。Ivoarktomyself，andwhenIton\'tvoark，Isdarfetomyself。But。Igeepmyhandtsglean，voarkorsdarfe。Gifhimhissmawneypack!Iamsawryforhim；Iwouldnothoarthissfeelings，boatIcouldnotpeartodouchhim，andhissmawneyisslikeboison!"

MarchtriedtoreasonwithLindau，toshowhimthefolly，theinjustice，theabsurdityofhiscourse；itendedintheirbothgettingangry，andinLindau\'sgoingawayinawhirlofGermanthatincludedBasilintheguiltofthemanwhomLindaucalledhismaster。

"Well，"saidMrs。March。"Heisacrank，andIthinkyou\'rewellridofhim。NowyouhavenoquarrelwiththathorridoldDryfoos，andyoucankeeprighton。"

"Yes，"saidMarch，"Iwishitdidn\'tmakemefeelsosneaking。Whatalongdayit\'sbeen!ItseemslikeacenturysinceIgotup。"

"Yes，athousandyears。Isthereanythingelselefttohappen?"

"Ihopenot。I\'dliketogotobed。"

"Why，aren\'tyougoingtothetheatre?"wailedBella，cominginuponherfather\'sdesperateexpression。

"Thetheatre?Ohyes，certainly!Imeantafterwegothome，"andMarchamusedhimselfatthepuzzledcountenanceofthechild。"Comeon!

IsTomready?"

IX。

FulkersonpartedwiththeMarchesinsuchtroubleofmindthathedidnotfeelabletomeetthatnightthepeoplewhomheusuallykeptsogayatMrs。Leighton\'stable。HewenttoMaroni\'sforhisdinner，forthisreasonandforothersmoreobscure。HecouldnotexpecttodoanythingmorewithDryfoosatonce；heknewthatDryfoosmustfeelthathehadalreadymadeanextremeconcessiontoMarch，andhebelievedthatifhewastogetanythingmorefromhimitmustbeafterDryfooshaddined。

Buthewasnotwithoutthehope，vagueandindefiniteasitmightbe，thatheshouldfindLindauatMaroni\'s，andperhapsshouldgetsomeconcessionfromhim，somewordofregretorapologywhichhecouldreporttoDryfoos，andatlestmakethemeansofreopeningtheaffairwithhim；

perhapsLindau，whenheknewhowmattersstood，wouldbackdownaltogether，andforMarch\'ssakewouldwithdrawfromallconnectionwith\'EveryOtherWeek\'himself，andsoleaveeverythingserene。Fulkersonfeltcapable，inhisdesperation，ofdelicatelysuggestingsuchacoursetoLindau，orevenofplainlyadvisingit:hedidnotcareforLindauagreatdeal，andhedidcareagreatdealforthemagazine。

ButhedidnotfindLindauatMaroni\'s；heonlyfoundBeaton。HesatlookingatthedoorwayasFulkersonentered，andFulkersonnaturallycameandtookaplaceathistable。SomethinginBeaton\'slarge-eyedsolemnityofaspectinvitedFulkersontoconfidence，andhesaid，ashepulledhisnapkinopenandstrungit，stillalittledamp(asthescanty，often-washedlinenatMaroni\'swasapttobe)，acrosshisknees，"Iwaslookingforyouthismorning，totalkwithyouabouttheChristmasnumber，andIwasagooddealworkedupbecauseIcouldn\'tfindyou；butIguessImightaswellhavesparedmyselfmyemotions。"

"Why?"askedBeaton，briefly。

"Well，Idon\'tknowasthere\'sgoingtobeanyChristmasnumber。"

"Why?"Beatonaskedagain。

"Rowbetweenthefinancialangelandtheliteraryeditoraboutthechieftranslatorandpolyglotsmeller。"

"Lindau?"

"Lindauishisname。"

"WhatdoestheliteraryeditorexpectafterLindau\'sexpressionofhisviewslastnight?"

"Idon\'tknowwhatheexpected，butthegroundhetookwiththeoldmanwasthat，asLindau\'sopinionsdidn\'tcharacterizehisworkonthemagazine，hewouldnotbemadetheinstrumentofpunishinghimforthemtheoldmanwantedhimturnedoff，ashecallsit。"

"Seemstobeprettygoodground，"saidBeaton，impartially，whilehespeculated，withadulltroubleatheart，ontheeffecttherowwouldhaveonhisownfortunes。Hislatevisithomehadmadehimfeelthattheclaimofhisfamilyuponhimforsomerepaymentofhelpgivencouldnotbemuchlongerdelayed；withhismothersickandhisfathergrowingold，hemustbegintodosomethingforthem，butuptothistimehehadspenthissalaryevenfasterthanhehadearnedit。WhenFulkersoncameinhewaswonderingwhetherhecouldgethimtoincreaseit，ifhethreatenedtogiveuphiswork，andhewishedthathewasenoughinlovewithMargaretVance，orevenChristineDryfoos，tomarryher，onlytoendinthesorrowfulconvictionthathewasreallyinlovewithAlmaLeighton，whohadnomoney，andwhohadapparentlynowishtobemarriedforlove，even。"Andwhatareyougoingtodoaboutit?"heasked，listlessly。

"BedoggedifIknowwhatI\'mgoingtodoaboutit，"saidFulkerson。

"I\'vebeenroundallday，tryingtopickupthepieces——rowbeganrightafterbreakfastthismorning——andonetimeIthoughtI\'dgotthethingallputtogetheragain。IgottheoldmantosaythathehadspokentoMarchalittletooauthoritativelyaboutLindau；that，infact，heoughttohavecommunicatedhiswishesthroughme；andthathewaswillingtohavemegetridofLindau，andMarchneedn\'thaveanythingtodowithit。

Ithoughtthatwasprettywhite，butMarchsaystheapologiesandregretsareallwellenoughintheirway，buttheyleavethemainquestionwheretheyfoundit。"

"Whatisthemainquestion?"Beatonasked，pouringhimselfoutsomeChianti。AshesettheflaskdownhemadethereflectionthatifhewoulddrinkwaterinsteadofChiantihecouldsendhisfatherthreedollarsaweek，onhisbackdebts，andheresolvedtodoit。

"Themainquestion，asMarchlooksatit，isthequestionofpunishingLindauforhisprivateopinions；hesaysthatifheconsentstomybouncingtheoldfellowit\'sthesameasifhebouncedhim。"

"Itmighthavethatcomplexioninsomelights，"saidBeaton。HedrankoffhisChianti，andthoughthewouldhaveittwiceaweek，ormakeMaronikeepthehalf-bottlesoverforhim，andsendhisfathertwodollars。"Andwhatareyougoingtodonow?"

"That\'swhatIdon\'tknow，"saidFulkerson，ruefully。Afteramomenthesaid，desperately，"Beaton，you\'vegotaprettygoodhead；whydon\'tyousuggestsomething?"

"Whydon\'tyouletMarchgo?"Beatonsuggested。

"Ah，Icouldn\'t，"saidFulkerson。"IgothimtobreakupinBostonandcomehere；Ilikehim；nobodyelsecouldgetthehangofthethinglikehehas；he\'s——afriend。"Fulkersonsaidthiswiththenearestapproachhecouldmaketoseriousness，whichwasakindofunhappiness。

Beatonshrugged。"Oh，ifyoucanaffordtohaveideals，Icongratulateyou。They\'retooexpensiveforme。Then，supposeyougetridofDryfoos?"

Fulkersonlaughedforlornly。"Goon，Bildad。Liketosprinkleafewashesovermyboils?Don\'tmindme!"

Theybothsatsilentalittlewhile，andthenBeatonsaid，"Isupposeyouhaven\'tseenDryfoosthesecondtime?"

"No。IcameinheretogirdupmyloinswithalittledinnerbeforeI

tackledhim。ButsomethingseemstobethematterwithMaroni\'scook。

Idon\'twantanythingtoeat。"

"Thecooking\'saboutasbadasusual，"saidBeaton。Afteramomentheadded，ironically，forhefoundFulkerson\'smiseryakindofrelieffromhisown，andwaswillingtoprotractitaslongasitwasamusing，"Whynottryanenvoyextraordinaryandministerplenipotentiary?"

"Whatdoyoumean?"

"GetthatotheroldfooltogotoDryfoosforyou!"

"Whichotheroldfool?Theoldfoolsseemtobeasthickasflies。"

"ThatSouthernone。"

"ColonelWoodburn?"

"Mmmmm。"

"Hedidseemtorathertaketothecolonel!"Fulkersonmusedaloud。

"Ofcoursehedid。Woodburn，withhisidiotictalkaboutpatriarchalslavery，isthemanonhorsebacktoDryfoos\'smuddyimagination。He\'dlistentohimabjectly，andhe\'ddowhateverWoodburntoldhimtodo。"

Beatonsmiledcynically。

Fulkersongotupandreachedforhiscoatandhat。"You\'vestruckit，oldman。"Thewaitercameuptohelphimonwithhiscoat；Fulkersonslippedadollarinhishand。"Nevermindthecoat；youcangivetherestofmydinnertothepoor，Paolo。Beaton，shake!You\'vesavedmylife，littleboy，thoughIdon\'tthinkyoumeantit。"HetookBeaton\'shandandsolemnlypressedit，andthenalmostranoutofthedoor。

TheyhadjustreachedcoffeeatMrs。Leighton\'swhenhearrivedandsatdownwiththemandbegantoputsomeofthelifeofhisnewhopeintothem。Hisappetiterevived，and，afterprotestingthathewouldnottakeanythingbutcoffee，hewentbackandatesomeoftheearliercourses。

Butwiththepressureofhispurposedrivinghimforward，hedidnotconcealfromMissWoodburn，atleast，thathewaseagertogetherapartfromtherestforsomereason。Whenheaccomplishedthis，itseemedasifhehadcontriveditallhimself，butperhapshehadnotwhollycontrivedit。

"I\'msogladtogetachancetospeaktoyoualone，"hesaidatonce；andwhileshewaitedforthenextwordhemadeapause，andthensaid，desperately，"Iwantyoutohelpme；andifyoucan\'thelpme，there\'snohelpforme。"

"Mahgoodness，"shesaid，"isthecasesobadasthat?Whatinthewoaldisthetrouble?"

"Yes，it\'sabadcase，"saidFulkerson。"Iwantyourfathertohelpme。"

"Oh，Ithoatyousaidme!"

"Yes；Iwantyoutohelpmewithyourfather。IsupposeIoughttogotohimatonce，butI\'malittleafraidofhim。"

"Andyouawenotafraidofme?Idon\'tthinkthat\'sveryflattering，Mr。

Fulkerson。YououghttothinkAh\'mtwahceasawfulaspapa。"

"Oh，Ido!Yousee，I\'mquiteparalyzedbeforeyou，andsoIdon\'tfeelanything。"

"Well，it\'saprettylahvelykyandofparalysis。But——goon。"

"Iwill——Iwill。IfIcanonlybegin。"

"PohapsAhmaghtbeginfo\'you。"

"No，youcan\'t。Lordknows，I\'dliketoletyou。Well，it\'slikethis。"

Fulkersonmadeaclutchathishair，andthen，afteranotherhesitation，heabruptlylaidthewholeaffairbeforeher。HedidnotthinkitnecessarytostatetheexactnatureoftheoffenceLindauhadgivenDryfoos，forhedoubtedifshecouldgraspit，andhewasprofuseofhisexcusesfortroublingherwiththematter，andofwonderathimselfforhavingdoneso。Intheraptureofhisconcernathavingperhapsmadeafoolofhimself，heforgotwhyhehadtoldher；butsheseemedtolikehavingbeenconfidedin，andshesaid，"Well，Ahdon\'tseewhatyoucandowithyou\'ahdealsoffriendshipexceptstandbahMr。Mawch。"

"Myidealsoffriendship?Whatdoyoumean?"

"Oh，don\'tyousupposeweknow?Mr。Beatonsaidyouwe\'apofectBahyardinfriendship，andyouwouldsacrificeanythingtoit。"

"Isthatso?"saidFulkerson，thinkinghoweasilyhecouldsacrificeLindauinthiscase。Hehadneversupposedbeforethathewaschivalrousinsuchmatters，buthenowbegantoseeitinthatlight，andhewonderedthathecouldeverhaveentertainedforamomenttheideaofthrowingMarchover。

"ButAhmostsay，"MissWoodburnwenton，"Ahdon\'tenvyyouyou\'nextinterviewwithMr。Dryfoos。Ahsupposeyou\'llhavetoseehimatonceaboatit。"

TheconjecturerecalledFulkersontotheobjectofhisconfidences。

"Ah，there\'swhereyourhelpcomesin。I\'veexhaustedalltheinfluenceIhavewithDryfoos——"

"Goodgracious，youdon\'texpectAhcouldhaveany!"

Theybothlaughedatthecomicdismaywithwhichsheconveyedthepreposterousnotion；andFulkersonsaid，"IfIjudgedfrommyself，Ishouldexpectyoutobringhimroundinstantly。"

"Oh，thankyou，Mr。Fulkerson，"shesaid，withmockmeekness。

"Notatall。Butitisn\'tDryfoosIwantyoutohelpmewith；it\'syourfather。IwantyourfathertointerviewDryfoosforme，andI-I\'mafraidtoaskhim。"

"Poo\'Mr。Fulkerson!"shesaid，andsheinsinuatedsomethingthroughherburlesquecompassionthatliftedhimtotheskies。Hesworeinhisheartthatthewomanneverlivedwhowassowitty，sowise，sobeautiful，andsogood。"Comeraghtwithmethisminute，ifthecyoast\'sclea\'。"Shewenttothedoorofthediningroomandlookedinacrossitsgloomtothelittlegallerywhereherfathersatbesidealampreadinghiseveningpaper；Mrs。Leightoncouldbeheardincolloquywiththecookbelow，andAlmahadgonetoherroom。ShebeckonedFulkersonwiththehandoutstretchedbehindher，andsaid，"Goandaskhim。"

"Alone!"hepalpitated。

"Oh，whatacyowahd!"shecried，andwentwithhim。"Ahsupposeyou\'llwantmetotellhimaboatit。"

"Well，Iwishyou\'dbegin，MissWoodburn，"hesaid。"Thefactis，youknow，I\'vebeenoveritsomuchI\'mkindofsickofthething。"

MissWoodburnadvancedandputherhandonherfather\'sshoulder。"Lookheah，papa!Mr。Fulkersonwantstoaskyousomething，andhewantsmetodoitfo\'him。"

Thecolonellookedupthroughhisglasseswiththesortofferocityelderlymensometimeshavetoputoninordertokeeptheirglassesfromfallingoff。Hisdaughtercontinued:"He\'sgotintoanawfuldifficultywithhisedito\'andhisproprieto\'，andhewantsyoutopacifythem。"

"IdonotknowwhethahIunderstandthecaseexactly，"saidthecolonel，"butMr。Fulkersonmaycommandmetotheextentofmyability。"

"Youdon\'tunderstanditaftahwhatAh\'vesaid?"criedthegirl。"ThenAhdon\'tseebutwhatyou\'llhavetoexplainityou\'self，Mr。Fulkerson。"

"Well，MissWoodburnhasbeensoluminousaboutit，colonel，"saidFulkerson，gladofthejokingshapeshehadgiventheaffair，"thatIcanonlythrowinalittleside-lighthereandthere。"

ThecolonellistenedasFulkersonwenton，withagravediplomaticsatisfaction。Hefeltgratified，honored，even，hesaid，byMr。

Fulkerson\'sappealtohim；andprobablyitgavehimsomethingofthehighjoythatanaffairofhonorwouldhavebroughthiminthedayswhenhehadarrangedformeetingsbetweengentlemen。Nexttobearingachallenge，thisworkofcomposingadifficultymusthavebeengrateful。

Buthegavenooutwardsignofhissatisfactioninmakingaresumeofthecasesoastogetthepointsclearlyinhismind。

"Iwasafraid，sir，"hesaid，withthestateduetotheseriousnatureofthefacts，"thatMr。LindauhadgivenMr。Dryfoosoffencebysomeofhisquestionsatthedinner-tablelastnight。"

"Perfectredragtoabull，"Fulkersonputin；andthenhewantedtowithdrawhiswordsatthecolonel\'slookofdispleasure。

"IhavenoreflectionstomakeuponMr。Landau，"ColonelWoodburncontinued，andFulkersonfeltgratefultohimforgoingon；"IdonotagreewithMr。Lindau；Itotallydisagreewithhimonsociologicalpoints；butthecourseoftheconversationhadinvitedhimtotheexpressionofhisconvictions，andhehadarighttoexpressthem，sofarastheyhadnopersonalbearing。"

"Ofcourse，"saidFulkerson，whileMissWoodburnperchedonthearmofherfather\'schair。

"Atthesametime，sir，IthinkthatifMr。DryfoosfeltapersonalcensureinMr。Lindau\'squestionsconcerninghissuppressionofthestrikeamonghisworkmen，hehadarighttoresentit。"

"Exactly，"Fulkersonassented。

"Butitmustbeevidenttoyou，sir，thatahigh-spiritedgentlemanlikeMr。March——Iconfessthatmyfeelingsarewithhimverywarmlyinthematter——couldnotsubmittodictationofthenatureyoudescribe。"

"Yes，Isee，"saidFulkerson；and，withthatstrangeduplexactionofthehumanmind，hewishedthatitwashishair，andnotherfather\'s，thatMissWoodburnwaspokingapartwiththecornerofherfan。

"Mr。Lindau，"thecolonelconcluded，"wasrightfromhispointofview，andMr。Dryfooswasequallyright。ThepositionofMr。Marchisperfectlycorrect——"

Hisdaughterdroppedtoherfeetfromhischair-arm。"Mahgoodness!

Ifnobody\'sinthewrong，ho\'aweyouevahgoingtogetthemattahstraight?"